Dead skin and cracked heels are common conditions that affect people of all ages. One of the most frequent causes of dead, scaly skin on your feet is typically a lack of moisture. This may result in dry, cracked feet as well as rough, itchy, red, or scaly patches of thickened, dead skin on your heels and soles.
Drastic feet and cracked heels can result from more than just a deficiency of moisture. Hard, dead skin on your heels and feet can be caused by using the wrong kind of soap, having extremely hot baths or showers, being cold outside, and having low humidity levels, according to podiatrist Dr. Marc Katz.
Psoriasis, diabetes, and eczema are among the illnesses that can exacerbate the issue. Calluses and cracked heels can also develop as a result of being overweight, standing for extended periods of time on hard floors, or wearing improper footwear.
Since your feet carry you every time you walk, stop, or run, it is crucial to maintain their health. It makes sense that daily pressure can cause your feet to become dry, cracked, and occasionally extremely painful. You can treat and stop the development of dead and dry skin cells on your feet, though, if you take good care of them.
How To Get Rid Of Dry Feet With Natural Remedies
You can use many natural remedies to keep your feet soft and moist without painful cracks. For example, various natural ingredients and oils soften the hard, dead skin on your dry feet making it easier to remove cells from dry skin.
These are some of the best natural remedies that will leave your feet feeling soft, fresh, and relaxed.
Soak Dry Feet
One of the easiest ways to smooth dry, cracked skin on your feet is to soak your feet in warm soapy water. This helps soften calluses (thickening of the skin) making it easy to remove dead skin with a pumice stone. Here is what you should do to make a warm foot bath to soak your feet:
- Fill a container with warm soapy water.
- Soak your feet for 20-30 minutes to allow the skin to soften enough.
- Use a pumice stone, gently rub the dead skin cells.
- Rinse your feet with little warm water and dry your feet properly.
- After soaking in lukewarm water, you should hydrate your feet with a little olive oil or other natural oil, such as coconut oil, too, to keep the skin on your feet soft and prevent them from drying out. Repeat this process 2 to 3 times a week until the cracked feet are completely gone.
Epsom Salts
Using Epsom salts in a warm foot bath is an excellent natural remedy to heal dry and cracked feet, as well as relax and soften them. Epsom salts contain magnesium and sulfate, minerals that penetrate the skin, this helps to remove toxins from the body and maintain healthy skin tissue.
To do a foot bath with Epsom salts to get rid of dead skin cells, do the following:
- Feet need to be washed with warm water and mild soap to remove dirt and grime.
- Stroke dry feet with a soft, clean towel.
- Take a container large enough to comfortably put both feet in.
- Fill with warm water. There should be enough water for it to reach your ankles when you put your feet on.
- Add about ½ cup of Epsom salt to the water.
- Soak the feet for 10-15 minutes until they soften.
- Mix a little Epsom salt with enough water to form a paste and exfoliate each foot with the mixture to remove any dead skin cells and flaky skin.
- Put your feet back in the basin to remove excess Epsom salt.
- Using a pumice stone, gently rub the thickened skin over your heels to remove dead skin.
- Rinse feet in warm water, clean and dry thoroughly.
- Use a light, natural moisturizer or a small amount of olive oil to keep skin soft and protected.
- Repeat the Epsom salt foot bath 2 to 3 times a week until you no longer have cracked heels or flaky skin on your feet.
Coconut Oil
Virgin coconut oil helps treat and prevent chapped feet due to its hydrating properties. It also contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, compounds that can kill common foot infections.The magazine Dermatitis showed that virgin coconut oil is an effective moisturizer to treat dry, rough, flaky, and itchy skin. Other studies have shown that coconut oil can destroy infection-causing bacteria and relieve itchy skin. If you have painful cracks in your bleeding heels, coconut oil is the perfect remedy to treat your condition and get immediate relief.
To use coconut oil to smooth dead skin cells and get rid of chapped feet, virgin coconut oil should be applied directly to the affected area before going to bed. Massage into the skin with a generous amount of coconut oil for 2 to 3 minutes until the skin softens and no longer cracks. Put on some clean cotton socks and then wash your feet in the morning.
Apply coconut oil regularly to keep the skin on your feet properly hydrated and to prevent a build-up of dead, dry skin cells. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of coconut oil will also help keep feet smelling fresh and infection-free, like athlete's foot.
You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a tablespoon of coconut oil before massaging cracked feet. Lavender oil helps hydrate the skin and provides a rich fragrance for your feet.
Vinegar
Like lemon juice, the acidic properties of vinegar can help dissolve dead skin cells on the feet and help them feel soft. In addition, vinegar also contains antibacterial properties that can help kill foot infections and remove any odor from them.To help get rid of dry feet, mix 1 part vinegar and 2 parts hot water in a large bowl. Soak the feet for 20 minutes and then pat dry. Repeat this once or twice a week until the symptoms have completely disappeared.
Glycerin
One way to hydrate your feet and treat dead cells from dry skin is to use glycerin. Glycerin is an organic compound and its common sources are animal fat or vegetable oil.Glycerin is highly hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water from the air. It is able to retain moisture on the skin and prevent the feet from drying out making them flaky.
Glycerin can help prevent and treat dry, rough, flaky, and itchy skin. In fact, studies on the effectiveness of glycerin as a humectant found that it is very effective in treating dry skin.
You can make your own topical application with glycerin and lemon juice to smooth dry, hard skin on your feet. Glycerin locks in moisture making your skin smoother, and lemon juice helps dissolve dead skin cells.
- Mix 1 tbsp. of glycerin and 1 tbsp. lemon juice in a small bowl.
- Apply the mixture on your feet and leave it to act for 20 minutes.
- Wash with clean hot water and pat dry feet with a clean towel.
- Apply the mixture of lemon juice and glycerin to your feet every day for about 2 weeks to treat the symptoms of cracked feet.